Writing instrument



July 6, 1965 Filed Nov. 9. 1961 F. T. JOHMANN WRITING INSTRUMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 6, 1965 F. T. JOHMANN 3,192,904

WRITING INSTRUMENT Filed Nov. 9, 1961 sheets sheet 2 IIIIIIIIIIIIIII'L 'III'IIII'I' FIG. l5

FIG. l6

I35 I34 I33 VIIIIIIIIIII4 FIG. l8

| 6 FIG. '20

I03 I03 :05 I05 FIG. IO FIG. Il FIG. l2-- FIG. I3

Inventor 'FMV July 6, 1965 F. T. JOHMANN WRITING INSTRUMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 9, 1961 FIG. 23

FIG. 22

FIG. -2l

FIG. 35

FIG. 25

FIG. 24

FIG. 27

FIG. 3|

FIG. 32 FIG. 33

FIG. 29 FIG. 30

Inventor United States. Patent O 3,192,994 WRITING INSTRIJR'IENI Frank Trlohmann, 49 Hampton Drive, Berkeley Heights, NJ. Filed Nov. 9, I95I, Ser. No. 151,376 14-{Iiaims. (1. 129--d2.t33)

This invention relates to improvements in tip-actuated writing instruments and to the point and ink cartridges used in said instruments. Farticularly, the invention relates to a tip-actuated ballpoint pen having the writing ball so positioned that when the pen is pressed at substantially ri ht angles against a writins surface, the writing ball is in an inoperative position for writing, yet when held at a writing angle against said writing surface the writing ball is in an operative writing position.

- Recently, tip-actuated ballpoint writing instruments have become known and are described in US. Patents 2,905,146; 2,995,147; and 2,989,032. In these writing instruments, the writing point is retracted or protracted relative to the casing, by pressing the writing tip end of the instrument into contact with a rigid surface (usually the writing surface), and then releasing said writing tip end from said contact. A minor disadvantage of these tip-action ballpoint instruments is that they generally result in dotting, i.e. a small dot of ink is deposited by the ballpoint on the rigid surface, during this retraction or protraction operation. The present invention is directed to improved tip-actuated writing instruments which will allow retraction or protraction of the writing ballpoint without said dotting occurring. The present invention is also directed to ballpoint cartridge units and methods of forming said cartridge units. The invention includes other advantages and aspects which will become clear from its description.

The invention will be further understood by reference to the drawings and following description, which include a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal view, partly in section, of a tip-actuated writing instrument including a ballpoint ink cartridge unit for alleviating the formation of dots during retract ion and protraction of the writing ballpoint.

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal view, partly in section, of the writing instrument of FIGURE 1, in a point protracted writing position.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 3-3 of FIGURE 1. 7

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the lower portion of the cartridge unit of the instrument of FIG- URES 1 to 3, illustrating the position of the writing ball during retraction or protraction.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary View of the lower portion of the cartridge unit of FIGURES l to 3, illustrating the position or" the writing ball during writing.

FIGURE 6 is similar to FIGURE 5, except that it shows said lower portion in a non-writing position preparatory to pivoting about its end to bring the ball into writing position.

FIGURE 7 is a schematic diagram wherein the latching members of the embodiment of FIGURES 1 to. 6 have been developed into a single plane to illustrate the relative position of the various latching members during the protraction-retraction cycle.

FIGURE 8 is a longitudinal view, partly in cross-section, of another writing instrument of the invention.

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the lower portion of the cartridge unit of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 10-II) of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 11-11 of FIGURE 8.

3,192,904 Patented .Inly 6, 1965 "ice FIGURE 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 12-12 of FIGURE 8. i I

FIGURE 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 13I3 of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 14'is a fragmentarysectional view illustrating a modification of the lower portion of the writing instru ment of'the embodiment of FIGURES 8 to 13.

FIGURES 15 to 20 are cross-sectional views illustrating steps in the formation of the lower writing tip portion of the ballpoint cartridge unit ofthe invention. FIGURE 21 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a ballpoint cartridge unit having a sleeve over its feeder tip in a retracting-protracting operating position.

FIGURE 22 is a view of the unit of FIGURE 21 in a writing position.

FIGURE 23 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the lines 23-23 of FIGURE 21.

FIGURE 24 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 21, but wherein the feeder tube and its sleeve are bent.

FIGURE 25 is a view of'the unit ofFIGURE 24 in a writing position. 7

FIGURE 26 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in section, of another modification of a ballpoint cartridge unit in a retraeting-protracting operating position.

FIGURE 27 is an enlarged fragmentary View of the lower portion of the modification of FIGURE 26 in a writing position.

FIGURE 28 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines Z 828 of FIGURE 26.

FIGURE 29 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view of a modification of the lower portion of the writing instrument of FIGURES 1 to 7 in a position preparatory 'to retracting the writing point.

FIGURE 30 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional View of the modification of FIGURE 29 during an intermediate stage of retracting the point. a r

FIGURE 31 is a sectional view of the modification of FIGURE 29 after the point has been retracted.

FIGURE 32 is an enlarged fragmentary view of yet another modification of the lower end of the writing instrument of FIGURES 1 to 7, said modification being in a point protracted position.

FIGURE 33 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the modification of FIGURE 32 in 'a point retracted position.

FIGURE 34 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 3434 of FIGURE 33.

FIGURE 35 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of yet another modification of'the lower portion of the embodiment of FIGURES 1 to 7.

Reference is now made to the drawings in detail, with particular reference to the embodiment of FIGURES 1 to 7. Here, the casing includes the upper and lower barrel members 20 and 21 respectively, joined together by threaded engagement with the tubular connecting plug 22. The bore extending through the lower portion of tubular barrel member 21, is reduced in diameter to thereby form the internal annular lip 23. A tubular hood 24, which has its outer end tapered inwardly and its-inner end formed with an annular flange 25, is longitudinally movable within the lower portion of said barrel section 21. Longitudinally movable within said hood 24, is a ballpoint cartridge unit 26. Said unit 26 includes the tubular ink reservoir tube 27 formed with the flange or flattened portion 28 and the bent tubular ink feeder 29 carrying the freely rotatablewriting ball 30. It will be noted from the enlarged views of FIGURES 4 to 6 that the ball 30 is on the side of the feeder tube 29 proximate its outer end 29a. 7

Fixed within the barrel section 20, is the sleeve'31. Fixed within said sleeve 31, are the tubular ratchet latch members 32 and 33. The lower tubular latch member 32 as shown more clearly in the developed View of FIGURE 7, is formed with the upwardly projecting ratchet teeth 34 and 35. The tooth 34 has the sides 34' and 34", while the tooth 35 has sides 35 and 35" (see FIGURE 7). The upper tubular latch member 33 is formed with the downwardly projecting ratchet teeth 36 and 37, which are radially offset from the upwardly projecting teeth 34 and 35 (see FIGURE 7). The ratchet tooth 36 has the sides 36' and 36", while the ratchet tooth 37 has the sides 37' and 37 (see FIGURE 7). The teeth 34, 35, 36 and 37 form an endless camway. Longitudinally movable within the tubular latch members 32 and 33, is a cylindrical latch member 38 formed with an external annular groove 39, which carries the pawl or latch ball 40. The latch ball 40 is movable within the groove 39 around the longitudinal axis of the writing instrument, being transversely retained between the cylindrical latch member 38 and the inner wall of the tubular sleeve 31.

i A relatively strong coil compression spring 41, centered by the cylindrical bosses 42 and 43, urges the cylindrical latch member 38 downwardly. A relatively weak conical coii spring 44, disposed between the flanges 25 and 28, urges the cartridge unit 26 upwardly into abutting engagement against the bottom of the latch cylinder 38 while urging the hood 24 downwardly to where its flange 25 seats against the lip 23. A longitudinally extending air vent 45 is formed in the latch member 38 to admit air to the interior of the ink reservoir tube 27.

The writing point 36 can be either protracted, i.e. projccted, out of the hood 24 .for writing, or retracted into said hood, by pressing the lower end of the instrument into contact with a rigid surface, followed by releasing from said contact. This pressing is preferably done while holding the instrument perpendicular to said rigid surface so as to avoid contact of the writing ball 30 with said surface. In this way, said surface will be contacted with the metal end 29a of the feeder tube 29, thereby avoiding ink dotting.

The protraction-retraction cycle will now be described in detail, with special reference to the schematic diagram of FIGURE 7. Here, the numbers within the small circles represent the various positions of the locking ball 40 relative to the developed or fiat view of the tubular latch members 32 and 33 at various stages of the protractionretraction cycle. To protract the writing point 30 from its retracted position of FIGURE 1, the instrument is pressed vertically downward against the rigid surface 46. By this action, first the hood 24, and then the cartridge unit 26,-will be forced upwardly relative to the barrel 20-21 against the pressure of spring 41. The cartridge unit 26 will thereby move the abutting latch cylinder 38, with its latch ball 40, upwardly to thereby bring said ball 49 from its original position 1 (of FIGURE 7) into contact with the tooth surface 36 (position 2) along which said ball 40 will move until it reaches position 3. Then upon lifting said instrument from contact with said rigid surface 46, the member 38 will move downwardly relative to the casing members 20 and 21, under the urging of spring 41. This downward movement will carry the latch ball 40 downwardly until it strikes the tooth surface 34' (position 4 of FIGURE 7) along which it will move until it seats. in the deep recess defined between teeth 34 and 35 .and indicated as position 5. The latch cylinder 38, which is now lower within the casing than before, holds the cartridge unit 26 in a point protracted position against the pressure of the weak spring 44. The hood 24, in the meantime, has been returned to its normal projecting position by spring 44. The instrument is now ready for writing with the ballpoint 30 projected through the outer end of hood 24. When the instrument is held in a writing position in pressure engagement against the writing surface 47 as in FIGURE 2, the cartridge unit will automatically assume a position where the writing ball 30 contacts the surface 47 because of the bent feeder tube 29. For example, assume that the metal side opposite the ball 30 is brought into contact against the writing surface 47 while holding the instrument at a writing angle to said surface. Then, the feeder tube and ball will be in the position indicated by FIGURE 6. However, once writing pressure is exerted upon the instrument, then the entire cartridge unit 26 will pivot about this point of contact, i.e. the cartridge unit 26 will rotate half a turn about its longitudinal axis, to bring the ball 30 into contact with the surface 47. It is thus seen, that even though the writing ball 30 is provided on the side of the feeder tube 29, that it can be automatically brought into direct contact with the writing surface as soon as writing pressure is applied, regardless of the initial position of said Writing ball relative to the writing surface. This automatic positioning is accomplished by bending the feeder tube 29 in the manner indicated.

To retract the writing point from its exposed position of FIGURE 2, the instrument is preferably held vertically to a horizontal rigid surface, then pressed down into contact with said surface and then released from said contact. As the protracted instrument is pressed into said contact, first the cartridge unit 26, and then the hood 24, will move upwardly relative to the barrel 20-21. The cartridge unit 26, in turn, moves the latch cylinder 38 upwardly relative to the fixed latch members 32 and 33 against the pressure of spring 41. The latch ball 40 is thus moved to position 6 and then position 7 (see FIG- URE 7). Upon lifting the instrument from contact with the rigid surface, the spring 41 will expand to move said cylinder 38 downwardly to carry the latch ball 40 into contact with tooth side 35' (position 8 of FIGURE 7), along which said ball 40 will move until it assumes position 1, which in fact is the same as position 1.

The embodiment of FIGURES l to 7 therefore illustrates how a tip-actuated ballpoint pen can be formed so as to allow retraction and protraction without forming unwanted dots by merely holding the instrument substantially vertical to the actuating rigid surface while retracting or protracting. Yet, when the instrument is held for Writing, the ink-covered writing ball is automatically positioned for writing upon pressing the writing tip end of the cartridge unit into pressure contact with the writing surface. Because of the abutting of the upper end of the cartridge unit 26 against the bottom of the cylinder 33, there is a slight frictional resistance to the cartridge unit 26 rotating about its longitudinal axis relative to the casing and said cylinder 33. This slight frictional resistance is desirable since it will enable the cartridge unit to respond to pressure engagement against a writing surface to position the ballpoint as hereinbefore described, yet it will prevent unwanted looseness or excessive play.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGURES 8 to 13. Here, the writing ballpoint is offset at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge unit, while the cartridge unit is held within the instrument casing so that said cartridge unit is non-rotatable about its longitudinal axis relative to said casing. The casing comprises the barrel members ltltl and 101 which are held toether by frictional engagement. The rigid ink reservoir tube 102 carries the bent rigid ink feeding tube 103, which in turn, carries the writing ball 104. The ball 104 is rotatably carried on the side of the tube 1il3 proximate its outermost end 103a, as illustrated more clearly in FIGURE 9. The longitudinally movable hood 105 has an oval crosssection, while the bore 196 defined by casing member is also oval to thereby prevent rotation of said hood relative to the barrel members. The conical coil spring 107, hearing against the cartridge flange 108, urges the cartridge unit upwardly. The upper end of the cartridge ink reservoir tube 102 is fixedly engaged, as by frictional engagement, in the bore 102 to the latch member 110. The cylindrical latch member is formed with a pair of outwardly projecting ears 111, which extend into slots 112 formed in the upper barrel member 100. The annular groove 113, formed in the periphery of the member 110, carries a pawl or latch ball 114. Latch members 115 and116, which are similar to the'latch members 33 and 32 respectively'of the embodiment of FIGURES 1 to 7, are fixed within the upper barrel section 169. A relatively strong coil compres sion spring 117, has one endbearing against the casing member 1% being centered by the boss 118, while its other end bears atop the member 119, being centered by the boss 119. An air vent 12%, allows ingress of air to the interior of the reservoir tube 182. The pocket clip 121, whichis shown as partly broken away, is fixed to the casing side which is opposite the side adjacent the writing ball 104. In other words, the clip 121 is 180 degrees offset from the ball 104 when viewing the instrument from the top. The locking ball 114 interacts with the ratchet latch members 115 and 116, upon reciprocal longitudinal movement of said ball 114 relative to said members 115 and 116, in the same manner that locking ball 40 interacts with latch members 33 and 32 of the embodiment of FIGURES 1 to 7. This relative reciprocal longitudinal'movement is achieved by pressing the lower end of the instrument into contact with a rigid surface. If this pressing is carried out while holding the instrument vertical, i.e. at right angles, to said surface, then the metal end 103a will contact said surface and no ink dot will form.

When the writing ball 104 is in its protracted positionof FIGURE 8, then the instrument can be used for writing, being held in the hand so that the ball 1G4 contacts the writing surface. Since it is normal to hold a pen with its clip uppermost, Le. away frornthe hand, the ball 164 will be thereby naturally positioned for writing. By having the feeder tube bent in the direction shown, together with a hood having an oval outer'end, the writer is also made aware of the location of the writing ball so as to correctly position it against the writing surface. Thus, in this embodime'nt the writing ball does not become automatically aligned onto the writing surface as does the embodiment of FIGURES l to 7. Rathen'in the embodiment of FIG- URES 8 to 13 the cartridge unit cannot rotate about its longitudinal axis relative to the casing, since it is prevented from so doing by fixed engagement with the memher 110 which has its ears 111 projecting into the slots 112 of the casing.

FIGURE 14 represents a modification of the embodiment of FIGURES 8 to 13 in that the feeder tube 1133 is straight and the hood 105' is symmetrical in that all its 7 horizontal cross-sections define circles and said hood has no side ribs. In this modification, the barrel'member 1191' can be marked to further indicate the position of the writing ball relative to the casing to facilitate positioning the writing instrument in the hand. FIGURES to represent a method of forming the writing tip end or feeder tube carrying a writing ball on the side of said feeder tube, as used in the practice of the present invention. In FIG- URE '15, a tubular length of metal stock 139, e.g. brass, copper, aluminum, etc., having a small diameter capillary bore 130, is used as the starting material. ;The forward end of the tube 13% can be closed to define the end 131 as illustrated in FIGURE 16 by spinning or other forming means. Or, the closed forward end tube of FIGURE 16 can be formed by stamping from sheet stock, thus by-passing the stage represented by FIGURE 15'. V In any event, the article of FIGURE 16 can be drilled to form the aper ture 132 as illustrated by FIGURE 17. Next,'an ink receiving recess or channel 134- is formed in the soft metal to thereby define a shoulder 135. This recess may be formed by a bobbing operation wherein a tool, having its hardened end shaped in a manner complementary to the shape desired, is forced against the inner wall 133 to cause the metal to displace and form a socket having the interior shape of FIGURE 18. The recess 134*permits the better flow of ink around the ball in order to better coat the ball with ink. In FIGURE 19, a writing ball 136is inserted "into the recess 132 defined in the side of said feeder tube proximate its closed forward end. In FIGURE 20, the

ClOSJ end of the feeder tube is shaped to a relatively blunt end, as by swaging, to displace metal about the ball 13 6 to thereby form a flange extending partly around said ball to retain said ball in its socket, while at the same time permitting said ball to freely rotate in said socket. The result ing capillary feeder tube assembly can next be bent if desired and inserted into a reservoir tube, and filled with ink to form a finished cartridge unit of the type indicated by the number 26 in'FIGURE 1.

Another embodiment of my invention is illustrated by FIGURES 21 to 23 which shows the lower portion of a conventional ballpoint cartridge including tubular ink reservoir 140, carrying the capillary feeder tube 141, which in turn, carries writing ball 142. This conventional ballpoint cartridge has been modified by friction fitting a sleeve 143 onto the feeder tube 141.- The portion of the sleeve 143 proximate the ball 142 has been cut away as, at 144 to leave the tip 145 which extends past the ball 142. Thus, in FIGURE 21, when the ballpoint cartridge is at right angles to a writing surface 146, the tip 145 contacts said surface l id, but the ball 142 is held above said' surface. However, when the cartridge is in a writing position, as in FIGURE 22-, then the Writing ball 142 contacts the writing surface 146, while the tip 145 is out of contact with said surface. It will be apparent that the ballpoint cartridge assembly of FIGURES 21 to 23 can be utilized in any. of the tip-actuated writing in- 'struments previously described.

FIGURES 24 and 25 represent a modification of the assembly of FIGURES 21 [023 wherein the feeder tube 141' and its sleeve 143'are bent. This bending has several advantages. .For example, the sleeve 143' can be loose o'nthe feeder tube 141', but when the two elements are bent as shown, the sleeve 143' then becomes fixedto the feeder tube 141' and cannot slide off said feeder tube. In' this case, the'outer tip end is preferably beveled so that it more firmly contacts the writing surface 146' when in the retracting or protracting position of FIGURE 24. FIGURE 25, of course,; represents the writing position. I

FIGURES26 to 28 represent still another modification of the invention. Here, the feeder'tube 147 is held by main ink reservoir tube 148 by frictional engagement in 'a conventional manner. However, the feeder tubehas a broad blunt lower'end 149, while a relatively small diameter writing ball, for very fine writing, 150 is carried on the side of said tube for rotation. The ball 150 is fed ink by the small diameter capillary bore 151 which is formed off-center to the longitudinal axis of said feeder tube 147. Said bore 151 communicates, of course, with the larger ink carrying bore 152 in the reservoir tube 148. By this arrangement a verysmall diameter ball-can be'carried on the side of a feeder tube. It will also be apparent that when pressed vertically against a writing surface 153, as'in FIGURE 26, e.g. when the cartridge is used in a tip-action pen, that the actuating pressure is distributed over a wide area of the writing surface 153 thus leaving no ink dot or otherwise marking the writing surface. However, when in a writing positon as in FIG- URE 27, the ball 150 contacts the-writing surface 153, while the blunt end 149 is clear of saidsurface.

' FIGURES 29 to 31 are fragmentary views of a'modifi- "cation of a tip-actuated writing'instrument of the type of FIGURES l'to 7. Specifically, a tubular hood 24 is "carried by the lower end of a barrel section 21with a fined where the feeder tube 29 joins the tubular reservoir The hood 24 is formed with the internalannular 27. lip 155. A'- sleeve 156, having its lower portion shaped to define the tip end 157, isloosely carried within the bore 158 in said hood.24. Said sleeve 156 has an annular flange 159 engageable against the annular lips 154 and 155. When the writing instrum'entis to be retracted, .it

is held in the position of FIGURE 29 and pressed downwardly against a rigid surface 160. Thus, the tip end 157 contacts the surface 160, and said sleeve 156 carries upwardly the cartridge unit 27' since the sleeves inner fiange 159 directly contacts said cartridge unit 27'. Next, the outer end of the hood 24' contacts the rigid surface 160, and the lower portion of the instrument assumes th position of FIGURE 30. Upon lifting the instrument from contact with said rigid surface 169, the cartridge 27' is held in a point retracted position with its point 30' fully within the sleeve 156, while the hood 24. has been returned to its normally projecting position by spring 44'. The sleeve 156, since it is loose within bore 158, can also return to its normal projecting position under the influence of gravity. It will be clear from the foregoing, that upon again pressing the lower tip end of the instrument against a rigid surface, that the position of FIGURE 30 will again be obtained, and then finally the position of FIGURE 29 will be obtained. When the instrument in its point projected position of FIGURE 29 is tilted into writing position, then, of course, the writing ball 30 can readily engage the writing surface.

Yet another modification of the embodiment of FIG- URES 1 to 7 is shown in FIGURES 32 to 34. Here, a hood 24 has a rib 161 extending into a slot 162 formed in the barrel section 21" to thereby prevent rotation of said hood about its longitudinal axis relative to said barrel section 21". The inner annular lip 155' of said hood can engage directly against the annular lip 154' of th cartridge. The outer end of the hood has been cut away or shaped, as indicated at 163, to define the narrow tip end 164. It will be apparent that the writing point 30" can be retracted or protracted relative to the hood 24" without contacting a rigid surface 169' when holding the instrument vertical to said surface as in FIGURE 32. Yet, when in its point projected position of FIGURE-32 and held at an angle against surface 160', said ball 30" can contact said surface for writing.

FIGURE 35 represents yet another embodiment of my invention. This figure really is similar to the embodiment of FIGURES 29 to 31 except that the sleeve 156 is somewhat longer and a coil compression spring 165 always maintains the annular flange 159 seated against the ink cartridge. FIGURE 35 represents the point protracted position and thus corresponds to FIGURE 29 in this regard.

Conclusion The preceding description and drawings illustrate a number of specific embodiments of my invention for preventing dotting. These embodiments are all characterized by having a forward end for engagement with a rigid surface for retraction or protraction operation, with a writing ball on the side proximate said forward end, but with said forward end extending past said ball. However, several of these embodiments represent various other advantages. Thus, the embodiments of FIGURES 21 to 25 show how a conventional ballpoint cartridge can. be simply modified to carry out the invention. This eliminates the cost of special machinery to make the cartridges of FIGURES 1 to 20. FIGURES 26 to 28 show how a very blunt end can be used to spread the force of pressure contact with a rigid surface, during retraction or protraction, over a relatively large area. This not only prevents dotting, but also alleviates denting of the rigid surface which can occur if the area of pressure contact is very small and the pressure of contact is large during retracting or protracting. FIGURES 29 to 35 represent embodiments in which conventional ballpoint cartridges can be used without modification of the cartridge. The advantage of this is that the user can replace the cartridge with standard conventional cartridges which are widely available. FIGURES 32 to 34 show how the main hood itself, if properly shaped can prevent dotting. FIGURE 35 provides a way in which a conventional cartridge can be used 8 and in whichthe writing point can be spring-loaded to give slightly under writing pressure to give smoother and easier writing. Thus, as the writing point gives slightly under writing pressure, the outer end of the sleeve 156' will move back with the writing point. On the other hand, with the embodiment of FIGURES 32 to 34, if the writing point 30" gives during writing, it would unwantedly shift back into the hood 24".

The preceding and other advantages are obtained by the present invention. Various minor modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A tip-actuated ballpoint writnig instrument which will not dot when retracted or protracted by pressing the writing tip end of said instrument into contact at substantially right angles with a rigid surface and then releasing from said contact, comprising a barrel having upper and lower ends; a hood carried by said barrel proximate its lower end, said hood having an outer end longitudinally movable relative to said barrel; a ballpoint cartridge unit including an ink reservoir tube, a feeder tube and a writing ball rotatably carried by said feeder tube, said feeder tube having an outer end and said writing ball being carried on the side of said feeder tube proximate said feeder tube outer end; means for switching the relative position of said cartridge unit and said hood between a point protracted position wherein said writing ball projects through said hood outer end and a point retracted position wherein said Writing ball is concealed within said hood, said means being responsive to pressing said hood outernd and said feeder tube outer end into contact wtih a rigid surface and then releasing from said contact with said rigid surface to attain said switching, said feeder tube outer end contacting a Writing surface when said instrument is held at a right angle to said writing surface for retraction or protraction, said writing ball contacting said writing surface when said instrument is positioned for writing at a writing angle to said writing surface.

2. A writing instrument according to claim 1, wherein said feeder tube is bent to displace said outer end of said feeder tube from the longitudinal axis of said cartridge unit.

3. A writing instrument according to claim 2, wherein said feeder tube is bent whereby said writing ball is on the side of said feeder tube proximate the longitudinal axis of said cartridge unit, and wherein said cartridge unit is rotatable around its longitudinal axis relative to said barrel whereby said writing ball will automatically shift into contact with a writing surface upon pressing said instrument into contact with said writing surface at a writing angle.

4. A writing instrument according to claim 2, wherein said feeder tube is bent whereby said writing ball is on the side of said feeder tube away from the longitudinal axis of said cartridge unit, wherein said cartridge unit is nonrotatable around its longitudinal axis relative to said barrel.

5. A writing instrument according to claim 1, wherein said outer end of said feeder tube is axially aligned with the longitudinal axis of said cartridge unit.

6. A tip-actuated ballpoint writing instrument which will not dot when retracted or protracted by pressing the writing tip end of said instrument into contact at substantially right angles with a rigid surface and then releasing from said contact, comprising a barrel, having upper and lower ends; a hood carried by said barrel having an outer end extendable through the lower end of said barrel, said hood interiorally defining a first annular shoulder; a ballpoint cartridge including an ink reservoir tube, a feeder tube and a writing ball rotatably carried by said feeder tube, said feeder tube and ink reservoir tube defining a second annular shoulder engageable against said first annular shoulder; and means for switching the relative position of said cartridge and said hood between a point protracted position and a point retracted position; said outer portion of said hood being so shaped to define an outer tip extending past said writing ball when said first and second shoulders are in engagement, said hood also exposing a side of said writing ball for writing when said shoulders are in engagement.

7. A tip-actuated ballpoint writing instrument which will not dot when retracted or protracted by pressing the writing tip end of said instrument into contact at substantially right angles with a rigid surface and then releasing from said contact, comprising a barrel having upper and lower ends; a first hood carried by said barrel having an outer end extendable through the lower end of said barrel; a second hood movable within said first hood; a ballpoint cartridge having a ballpoint at its lower end and engageable with said second hood for conjoint longitudinal movement inwardly relative to said first hood, said second hood defining a tip end which extends past said writing ball when said writing ball .is in a point protracted position but which partially exposes said ball for writing; and means responsive to the inward movement of said cartridge and first and second hoods relative to said barrel for switching the relative position of said cartridge and said second hood between a point protracted position and a point retracted position.

8. A tip-actuated ballpoint writing instrument which will not dot when retracted or protracted by pressing the writing tip end of said instrument into contact at substantially right angles with a rigid surface and then releasing from said contact, comprising'a barrel having upper and lower ends; a hood carried by said barrel proxi mate its lower end, said hood having a lower end longicartridge unit and said hood between a point protracted position wherein said writing ball projects through said hood lower end and a point retracted position wherein said writing ball is concealed within said hood, said 7 means being responsive to pressing said hood lower end and said outer end of said ballpoint cartridge unit into contact with a rigid surface and then releasing from said contact with said rigid surface to attain said switching, said outer end of said cartridge unit contacting a Writing surface when said instrument is held at a right angle to said writing surface for retraction or protraction, said writing ball contacting said writing surface when said instrument is positioned for writing at a writing angle to said writing surface.

9. A writing instrument according to claim 8, wherein a sleeve is fixed on said feeder tube and said outer end of said cartridge unit is defined by said sleeve.

16. In a tip-actuated ballpoint writing instrument com- I prising a barrel having upper and lower ends, a hood unit projecting downwardly from the lower end of said barrel, a ballpoint cartridge unit including a writingball, and means for switching the relative position of said cartridge unit and said hood unit between a point protracted position wherein said writing ball projects through said hood unit and a point retracted position wherein said Writing ball is concealed within said hood unit, said means being responsive to pressing the writing tip end of said instrument into contact with a rigid surface and then releasing from said contact to thereby longitudinally move said hood unit and said cartridge unit relative to each other and said barrel to attain said switching, and a non-dotting surface-contacting end defined by said instrument proximate said ball point, said surface-contact ing end contacting a writing surface when said instrument is held-at right angle to said writing surface during said switching, said writing ball contacting said writing surface when protracted and said instrument is positioned.

for writing at a writing angle to said writing surface.

11. In a writing instrument according to claim 10,.said ballpoint cartridge unit including a feeder tube having an outer end definingsaid surfacercontacting end.

12. In a writing instrument according to claim It said ballpoint cartridge unit including a sleeve fixed on said cartridge unit proximate said ballpoint, said sleeve hav ing an outer end extending past said ball point and defining said surface-contacting end.

13. In a writing instrument according to claim 10, said hood unit having an outer end defining said surface-contacting end.

14. In a writing instrument according to claim 13, said hood unit including a first hood extending through the lower end of said barrel, and a second hood movable within said first hood, said second hood defining said surface-contacting end.

References Qited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS JEROME SCHNALL, Primary Examiner.

JOSEPH D. BEEN, Examiner. 

10. IN A TIP-ACTUATED BALLPOINT WRITING INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A BARREL HAVING UPPER AND LOWER ENDS, A HOOD UNIT PROJECTING DOWNWARDLY FROM THE LOWER END OF SAID BARREL, A BALLPOINT CARTRIDGE UNIT INCLUDING A WRITING BALL, AND MEANS FOR SWITCHING THE RELATIVE POSITION OF SAID CARTRIDGE UNIT AND SAID HOOD UNIT BETWEEN A POINT PROTRACTED POSITION WHEREIN SAID WRITING BALL PROJECTS THROUGH SAID HOOD UNIT AND A POINT RETRACTED POSITION WHEREIN SAID WRITING BALL IS CONCEALED WITHIN SAID HOOD UNIT, SAID MEANS BEING RESPONSIVE TO PRESSING THE WRITING TIP END OF SAID INSTRUMENT INTO CONTACT TO THEREBY LONGITUDINALLY THEN RELEASING FROM SAID CONTACT TO THEREBY LONGITUDINALLY MOVE SAID HOOD UNIT AND SAID CARTRIDGE UNIT RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER AND SAID BARREL TO ATTAIN SAID SWITCHING, SAID A NON-DOTTING SURFACE-CONTACTING END DEFINED BY SAID INSTRUMENT PROXIMATE SAID BALL POINT, SAID SURFACE-CONTACTING END CONTACTING A WRITING SURFACE WHEB SAID INSTRUMENT IS HELD AT RIGHT ANGLE TO SAID WRITING SURFACE DURING SAID SWITCHING, SAID WRITING BALL CONTACTING SAID WRITING SURFACE WHEN PROTRACTED AND SAID INSTRUMENT IS POSITIONED FOR WRITING AT A WRITING ANGLE TO SAID WRITING SURFACE. 